bamaborn81
Community Member
I want to start picking out my clean up crew. For a 50 gal what kind of ratio do I need as far as snails, shrimp, stars, and so on do I need? Also what about QT them? Can I QT them all together? Thanks!
Help starting to pick a clean up crew
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MondoBongo
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i QT my CUC together, and i QT anything wet. doesn't matter what it is. obviously you can't use a QT tank that has ever seen copper, as it will kill your invertebrates.
what you choose will depend in large part on what type of tank you are planning. FOWLR or Reef.
most starfish don't make good cleanup crew. the sand sifters tend to need large tanks to keep fed, and may starve in smaller systems.
personally, i like shrimp, different snails, emerald crabs, and hermit crabs.
in my 75 gallon i have a peppermint shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, two emerald crabs, and various snails and hermits.
one large mexican turbo snail, various nerite, 3 narcissus snails, and a smattering of other different types. probably somewhere around 3 dozen total. i typically replenish their numbers every few months with a varied mix.
i also have plenty of bristle worms that help keep things clean.
in many ways it depends on the mess you're trying to clean up, and how much load is in your tank.
what you choose will depend in large part on what type of tank you are planning. FOWLR or Reef.
most starfish don't make good cleanup crew. the sand sifters tend to need large tanks to keep fed, and may starve in smaller systems.
personally, i like shrimp, different snails, emerald crabs, and hermit crabs.
in my 75 gallon i have a peppermint shrimp, skunk cleaner shrimp, two emerald crabs, and various snails and hermits.
one large mexican turbo snail, various nerite, 3 narcissus snails, and a smattering of other different types. probably somewhere around 3 dozen total. i typically replenish their numbers every few months with a varied mix.
i also have plenty of bristle worms that help keep things clean.
in many ways it depends on the mess you're trying to clean up, and how much load is in your tank.
bamaborn81
Community Member
Do the crabs mess with corals?
bamaborn81
Community Member
Also which did you add first Fish or CUC?
jdl513
Valuable Member
My 2 cents...
I have had good luck with Hawaiian Strombus grazer snails (Strombus maculatus) for film algae control.
They stay small at ~3/8-inch and if you get 20 or so they can reproduce so you don't have to keep buying more.
Astrea's and nerites are good for algae control, but you will need to buy more periodically.
For detritus I would go with nassarius snails.
Another good option is cerith's as they eat pretty much anything.
I am not a fan of turbo's tend to knock frags over so I steer clear of them.
Also not a big fan of margarita's as they typically can't right themselves when they get tipped over.
Crabs...in my experience are more trouble than they are worth but if you want them I would go with Scarlett's.
I have had good luck with Hawaiian Strombus grazer snails (Strombus maculatus) for film algae control.
They stay small at ~3/8-inch and if you get 20 or so they can reproduce so you don't have to keep buying more.
Astrea's and nerites are good for algae control, but you will need to buy more periodically.
For detritus I would go with nassarius snails.
Another good option is cerith's as they eat pretty much anything.
I am not a fan of turbo's tend to knock frags over so I steer clear of them.
Also not a big fan of margarita's as they typically can't right themselves when they get tipped over.
Crabs...in my experience are more trouble than they are worth but if you want them I would go with Scarlett's.
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MondoBongo
Community Member
My crabs have not messed with my corals at all. Your mileage may vary. I have heard some people complain about emeralds, but I've had quite a few over the last year and a half, and never had an issue.
I added some of my cleanup crew first about two weeks after my cycle was completed.
Then about two weeks after that added my first fish, and have scaled my CUC accordingly since.
I added some of my cleanup crew first about two weeks after my cycle was completed.
Then about two weeks after that added my first fish, and have scaled my CUC accordingly since.
jdl513
Valuable Member
Someone stated QT for CUC's is important and I agree.
There are tiny parasitic snails that can hitchhike on larger CUC snails that become a huge headache if they get into your display.
There are tiny parasitic snails that can hitchhike on larger CUC snails that become a huge headache if they get into your display.
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mcarroll
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Don't think pest snails are an issue unless you have clams or zoanthids. Much more likely to get pests from their targets (clams and zoanthids) than a random intermediate vector like an algae snail too. (Ya, anything is still possible.) If you can QT, then do....but I would not go out of my way. (Buy local and know your source whenever possible.)
I would start with a few (<10) Cerith snails and build your CUC slowly based on the amount of algae you end up with. (If you don't overstock or overfeed, you many have almost none.) CUC-size has nothing to do with tank size really. Ceriths will multiply according to the available food, so may be all you ever need.
Turbos are way too big for a 50 - almost sure to starve sooner or later. If you ever add hermits, I wouldn't add more than one or two. ...unless you hate your snails.
-Matt
I would start with a few (<10) Cerith snails and build your CUC slowly based on the amount of algae you end up with. (If you don't overstock or overfeed, you many have almost none.) CUC-size has nothing to do with tank size really. Ceriths will multiply according to the available food, so may be all you ever need.
Turbos are way too big for a 50 - almost sure to starve sooner or later. If you ever add hermits, I wouldn't add more than one or two. ...unless you hate your snails.
-Matt
